GMG's Greatest Symphony Poll of 2017

[vandermolen]

Some extra points for some symphonies not mentioned here before:

10 - Vaughan Williams: No. 6
9 - Vaughan Williams: No. 3 ('A Pastoral')
8 – Vaughan Williams: No. 9
7 – Holmboe: No. 8 ('Boreale')
6 – Tubin: No. 6
5 – Brian: No. 1 ('Gothic')
4 – Nielsen: No. 5
3 – Shostakovich: No. 15
2 – Arnold: No. 9
1 – Braga Santos: No. 3

The VW No.6 was on my original list.

[Mirror Image]

Well, it's 'bout time to tally 'em up, Greg!

[TheGSMoeller]

Well, it's 'bout time to tally 'em up, Greg!

I was just updating the votes to include the last two. I'll be up for another hour or so, I'll check one more time then I'll post!

[Mirror Image]

I was just updating the votes to include the last two. I'll be up for another hour or so, I'll check one more time then I'll post!

Sounds good my friend!

[TheGSMoeller]

Thanks for everyone that participated! There were 122 symphonies listed, but I'm only posting the top 30 right now, but if someone really wants to see all of the dozens of works that received a low single digit vote I would be more than happy to post them. 
And I would really like to read what you all thought of the results.
The next poll I would like to start is Greatest Concertos, which would be even more interesting because of the mix of all the different instruments available for concertos.


1.   Mahler: Symphony No. 9 - 82
2.   Brahms: Symphony No. 4 - 78
3.   Mahler: Symphony No. 6 - 57
4.   Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 – 55
5.   Beethoven: No. 9 - 44
6.   Ives: Symphony No. 4 - 43
7.   Shostakovich: Symphony № 4   - 37
t-8.   Bruckner: No. 8 – 34
        Mozart: No. 41 - 34
10.   Sibelius: No. 7  - 33
11.   Bruckner: No. 9 - 32
12.   Tchaikovsky: No. 6 "Pathetique" - 30
13.   Beethoven: No. 7 - 27
14.   Berlioz:  Symphonie Fantastique - 25
t-15.   Nielsen: No. 5 - 23
        Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms: - 23
        Shostakovich: Symphony 5 - 23
        Schubert: Symphony No.9 - 23
19.   Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 - 22
20.   Brian: No. 1 "Gothic" - 21
21.   Webern:  Symphony op 21 - 20
22.   Messiaen: Turangalila-Symphonie - 19
t-23.   Mozart: Symphony No. 38 - 18
        Schnittke: Symphony No. 1 - 18
        Vaughan Williams: Symphony 6 - 18
26.   Mahler: Symphony 2 - 17
t-27. Shostakovich, № 10 in e minor, Op.93.  -16
        Beethoven 6 - 16
t-29  Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 - 15
        Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E: - 15

[SymphonicAddict]

Thanks for everyone that participated! There were 122 symphonies listed, but I'm only posting the top 30 right now, but if someone really wants to see all of the dozens of works that received a low single digit vote I would be more than happy to post them. 
And I would really like to read what you all thought of the results.
The next poll I would like to start is Greatest Concertos, which would be even more interesting because of the mix of all the different instruments available for concertos.


1.   Mahler: Symphony No. 9 - 82
2.   Brahms: Symphony No. 4 - 78
3.   Mahler: Symphony No. 6 - 57
4.   Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 – 55
5.   Beethoven: No. 9 - 44
6.   Ives: Symphony No. 4 - 43
7.   Shostakovich: Symphony № 4   - 37
t-8.   Bruckner: No. 8 – 34
        Mozart: No. 41 - 34
10.   Sibelius: No. 7  - 33
11.   Bruckner: No. 9 - 32
12.   Tchaikovsky: No. 6 "Pathetique" - 30
13.   Beethoven: No. 7 - 27
14.   Berlioz:  Symphonie Fantastique - 25
t-15.   Nielsen: No. 5 - 23
        Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms: - 23
        Shostakovich: Symphony 5 - 23
        Schubert: Symphony No.9 - 23
19.   Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 - 22
20.   Brian: No. 1 "Gothic" - 21
21.   Webern:  Symphony op 21 - 20
22.   Messiaen: Turangalila-Symphonie - 19
t-23.   Mozart: Symphony No. 38 - 18
        Schnittke: Symphony No. 1 - 18
        Vaughan Williams: Symphony 6 - 18
26.   Mahler: Symphony 2 - 17
t-27. Shostakovich, № 10 in e minor, Op.93.  -16
        Beethoven 6 - 16
t-29  Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 - 15
        Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E: - 15

Interesting results indeed. Overall, I like what I see, especially for some choices of mine (Brahms 4, Mahler 6, Beethoven 7, Nielsen 5, Shostakovich 5). The whole list represents very well the tastes of the participants of this forum (including me). The concerto's poll will be cool as well.

[SymphonicAddict]

Also, I'd like to emphasize the king of this poll: Mahler 9, surpassing any of Beethoven. I expected maybe the 2nd symphony as his most popular, though. I can't complain, the 9th is a complex and fascinating world of emotions with a redemptive ending. A quite worthy work.

[Maestro267]

Fascinating poll. Sadly I was too late in thinking of (and subsequently posting) my results. It shows the health of this community's tastes that the top 10 isn't totally crammed with Beethoven, as these polls often tend to be.

[Florestan]

It shows the health of this community's tastes that the top 10 isn't totally crammed with Beethoven, as these polls often tend to be.

But then again, no Haydn, Schumann, Mendelssohn and Enescu in top 30 greatest symphonies? This is insane. 

[North Star]

But then again, no Haydn, Schumann, Mendelssohn and Enescu in top 30 greatest symphonies? This is insane. 

There could theoretically be hundreds of votes for Haydn without one symphony by him being in the top 30, though. 

[Karl Henning]

Considering all the Mahler which populates the top 30 (and I am not saying it ought at all to be otherwise), I admit I am a tad surprised we're missing the Brahms Third up there . . . .

[TheGSMoeller]

Considering all the Mahler which populates the top 30 (and I am not saying it ought at all to be otherwise), I admit I am a tad surprised we're missing the Brahms Third up there . . . .

I approve this message.

[Brian]

Fascinating poll. Sadly I was too late in thinking of (and subsequently posting) my results. It shows the health of this community's tastes that the top 10 isn't totally crammed with Beethoven, as these polls often tend to be.

Meanwhile, when I saw Mahler at the top my first thought was, "Damn, should have put more Beethoven on my ballot."

[Ken B]

Meanwhile, when I saw Mahler at the top my first thought was, "Damn, should have put more Beethoven on my ballot."

Imagine how I feel, with Ives on the list at all! 

[North Star]

Damn! I forgot to vote for La mer.

[Ken B]

Damn! I forgot to vote for La mer.

I'm surprised it didn't make the list actually.

[Karl Henning]

Someone slipped the hawser.

[Ken B]

Someone slipped the hawser.

I was gonna say something while the pol was still live, and then I thought ... naaaah

[TheGSMoeller]

I was gonna say something while the pol was still live, and then I thought ... naaaah

Apparently many of the posters concluded their thoughts of adding La Mer with, naaaah

[aesthetic]

Nice work, GSMoeller. 

A lot of variety in that top 30 for sure, and a worthy top work!